Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Dexamethasone influences human clock gene expression in bronchial epithelium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Naoto Burioka1, Miyako Takata, Yoko Okano
1Division of Medical Oncology and Molecular Respirology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. burioka@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
We determined whether human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) could be used to analyze clock genes by studying their mRNA expressions in human bronchial epithelium (BEAS-2B) and PBMCs following stimulation by the glucocorticoid homologue dexamethasone (DEX) in vitro. PBMCs were obtained at 10:00 h from two diurnally active (approximately 07:00 to 23:00 h) healthy volunteers and were evaluated for hPer1 mRNA expression following DEX stimulation in vitro using real time-PCR analysis. DEX stimulation of human BEAS-2B cells and PBMCs in vitro led to a remarkable increase of hPer1 mRNA. The glucocorticoid rapidly affected the expression of hPer1 mRNA in PBMCs, suggesting that human PBMCs may be a useful surrogate marker for the investigation of drug effects on clock genes.
Related Concept Videos
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...

